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Trip from Portage, IN to Lowell, IN

Drive Time

3h 47m

Distance

197 mi

317 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$30

one way

EV Charging

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station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min
4 AM
3h 35m ★
6 AM
3h 47m
8 AM
4h 13m
10 AM
3h 56m
12 PM
3h 54m
3 PM
3h 57m
5 PM
4h 11m
8 PM
3h 40m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Portage, IN, IN

Portage, IN

John Hanson

Downtown Lowell, IN, IN

Lowell, IN

Abhishek Navlakha

Trip Overview

The drive from Portage, IN to Lowell, IN covers 197 miles and takes about 3h 47m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway, I 65, US 31 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 130 miles on Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $29.92 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

98.5 miles from Portage, IN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 51m into the drive .

Drive Character

The drive from Portage, IN to Lowell, IN covers 197 miles and takes about 3h 47m, using a mix of highways and local roads.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 130 miles.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

951 ft 633 ft

Total Climb

305 ft

Total Descent

318 ft

Highest Point

951 ft

~131.3 mi in

Elevation Range

318 ft

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4 miles in near I 80.

Route Complexity 9/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 197 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 4 miles (I 80): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.6 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.7 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 15 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

8
4 mi into trip | ~6m in | I 80

Take the exit onto I 80 toward I 80 West, I 94, US 6: Des Moines

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 21 Toward I 80 West, I 94, US 6: Des Moines
8
4.6 mi into trip | ~7m in | I 80

Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 toward I 94 West, I 80 West, SR 51, US 6 East

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 94 West, I 80 West, SR 51, US 6 East
8
4.7 mi into trip | ~7m in | I 80

Keep slight left at fork onto I 80 toward I 94 West, I 80 West

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 94 West, I 80 West
8
7.7 mi into trip | ~12m in

Take the exit toward I 65: Gary, Toll Road, Indianapolis

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 12 Toward I 65: Gary, Toll Road, Indianapolis
7
8.4 mi into trip | ~13m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 65 South: Indianapolis

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Toward I 65 South: Indianapolis

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway 130 mi 2h 21m
I 65 53.7 mi 1h 4m
US 31 3.8 mi 5m
I 80 3.7 mi 5m
Indiana Toll Road 2.6 mi 3m
Willowcreek Road 0.6 mi 1m
Central Avenue 0.4 mi <1m
Shady Lane 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway — 130 mi, about 2h 21m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Portage, IN and Lowell, IN.

1

Start on Central Avenue

0.4 mi · 53 sec · Central Avenue
2

Turn right onto Willowcreek Road

0.6 mi · 1 min · Willowcreek Road
Use the right lane.
3

Take the ramp

434 ft · 11 sec
Toward I 80, I 90
4

Keep slight right at fork

0.1 mi · 16 sec
5

Continue on this road

0.4 mi · 47 sec · this road
6

Merge onto I 80; I 90

2.6 mi · 3 min · Indiana Toll Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Take the exit onto I 80

0.6 mi · 1 min · I 80
Exit 21 Toward I 80 West, I 94, US 6: Des Moines Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Keep slight right at fork onto I 80

0.1 mi · 13 sec · I 80
Toward I 94 West, I 80 West, SR 51, US 6 East Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Keep slight left at fork onto I 80

2.9 mi · 4 min · I 80
Toward I 94 West, I 80 West Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 51 sec
Exit 12 Toward I 65: Gary, Toll Road, Indianapolis Use the slight right lane.
11

Keep slight left at fork

0.1 mi · 9 sec
Toward I 65 South, I 80 West, I 94 West, US 6 West: Indianapolis, Chicago
12

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 59 sec
Toward I 65 South: Indianapolis Use the slight left lane.
13

Merge onto I 65

130 mi · 2 hr 21 min · Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Keep slight left at fork onto I 65

17 mi · 22 min · I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Continue on I 65

1.9 mi · 2 min · I 65
Exit 112A Toward I 70 East: Dayton
16

Keep slight left at fork onto I 65

35 mi · 39 min · I 65
Use the slight left lane.
17

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 45 sec
Exit 76A Toward US 31 South: Taylorsville, Columbus
18

Turn straight onto US 31

3.8 mi · 5 min · US 31
19

Turn right onto Shady Lane

0.2 mi · 55 sec · Shady Lane
20

Arrive at destination

Shady Lane

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 98.5 miles from Portage, IN, or about 1h 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 130 miles.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 80 miles or 1h 31m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 98.5 miles or 1h 51m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 4m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lowell, IN than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Portage, IN so your first major turns are already loaded.

+

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

+

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Portage, IN

This is one driving day of about 197 miles and 3h 47m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Portage, IN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway for about 130 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 98.5 mi from Portage, IN · 1h 51m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Champaign, IL

99 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Orland Park, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Champaign, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 98.5 miles from Portage, IN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 130 miles.

Arriving in Lowell, IN

The final approach into Lowell, IN usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Lowell, IN.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$29.92 one way

$59.84 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 69 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $32.99 $65.97
premium $4.80 $37.19 $74.38
diesel $5.64 $43.77 $87.53

Estimated Tolls: $0.18

Indiana Toll Road (2.6 mi) $0.18

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$30

Tolls

$0

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$55–$80

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 68.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 59.1 0 $20.68 $9.46
Efficient EV 49.3 0 $17.24 $7.88
EV Truck/SUV 78.8 0 $27.58 $12.61

Gas CO2

69 kg

EV CO2

23 kg (67% less)

This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.

DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast data refreshed 17 hours ago

Origin

Portage, IN

Evening in Portage on Sunday

Local time

6:48 PM

CDT

Current temp

53°F

Slight Chance Rain Showers

SSE 10 to 15 mph 18% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 12 at 12:21AM CDT by NWS Paducah KY

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 11 at 9:24PM CDT until April 12 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL

Destination

Lowell, IN

Evening in Lowell on Sunday

Local time

7:48 PM

EDT

Current temp

52°F

Partly Cloudy

SE 5 mph 4% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 12 at 12:21AM CDT by NWS Paducah KY

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 11 at 9:24PM CDT until April 12 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

Time zone

1 hour later

The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.

Temperature spread

1 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

3h 47m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Portage, IN to Lowell, IN covers 197 miles and takes about 3h 47m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway, I 65, US 31. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 98.5 miles from Portage, IN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $29.92 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 197 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 4 miles (I 80): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.6 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.7 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Portage, IN to Lowell, IN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Return Trip

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Plan the drive back the other way.

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